Karachi Violence: More Dead, Less Action
The enemies within: Political parties and their gangs have unleashed a wave a death and destruction on Pakistan's largest city.
Talk, talk and more talk. For two days now, the bodies have been piling up – perhaps not in as large numbers as before, but piling up nonetheless – yet nothing substantial is being done about the raging violence in Karachi.
On the one hand, Interior Minister Rehman Malik says he will give the Rangers more powers. But on the other, Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza says no operation can be conducted without his approval; this, after it was announced in the news that operations will be launched in PIB colony, Aziz Bhatti, Lyari and Dalmia, the result of which large groups gathered in Lyari to protest.
For the past two to three days now, representatives from the MQM, ANP and PPP have been appearing on news talk shows. But there is nothing new the politicians have to offer to the discourse on tackling the bloody situation in Karachi. They are only restating what they have said before. While they all publicly agree that an across-the-board crackdown should be conducted regardless of what ethnic background the criminals belong to and that if there are criminals within their rank and file, then action should be taken against them too, the discussion just isn’t moving on from there.
In fact, at some point or the other, they start questioning each other’s conduct and begin a “we-did-this-but-what-did-you-do” argument. They call each other ‘bhai’ and in the same breath accuse the other of wrongdoing and inaction. And the discussion eventually comes full circle and ends with the elusive mafias and gangs that are operating in Karachi that must be eliminated.
It seems that where there is emphasis on taking action, just what kind of action is necessary and is legal has not been debated enough, or decided.
Do you have faith in the quality and evenness of a potential crackdown? Do you think the army is best suited for the job? Vote below:
Should the army be called in to Karachi to implement an across-the-board crackdown on criminal gangs?
- Yes (55%, 248 Votes)
- No (43%, 190 Votes)
- Undecided (2%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 447
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How can government take action against itself?–On ground, everybody knows who is killing whom and why? But nobody dares unearth them. All the Karachittes can only lament or comment on the situation..It really amazes me when i see political bigwigs of MQM and ANP suggest ways to restore peace in the city. how ironic!
LAND FOR KORANGI SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Much has been heard and written about the S-III Project, designed to cater all sewerage being generated within the Karachi Limits. The credit must goes to the Supreme Court , who took interest in removing all bottlenecks in implementing this much needed project and extend its support to resolve all outstanding issues related to the project. The SC is regularly hearing the case to reduce marine pollution, the case was in fact filed in 1996 and now SC has appointed additional attorney general; of Pakistan to prepare and submit progress reports on regular basis. During the hearing of the said case, it was disclosed by the KWSB that its land originally earmarked as 450 acres in Korangi, near Pakistan Refinery, has been distributed among several societies like aero club, Ishratul ul Ibad trust and civil servants society, industrial park ans so on and so forth to develop the area for use other than the prescibed use of the land. When the matter brought to the knowledge of SC, it took it as exception and directed the concerned authorities specifically Board of Revenue, Sindh to cancel all such leases and initiate legal proceedings against all those involved in issuing such leases and after cancellation all the land should be handed over to KWSB with immediate effect so that the project could be implemented in true spirit and according to the original design. The directives were very loud and clear but as usual bureaucracy played its due role by twisting the decision in their own interest. Instead of re-allocating 450 acres of land to kWSB they manipulated the directives by allotting only 300 acres to KWSB and saving 150 acres, worth billion of Rupees, for their favourites. the land is much needed for the Karachites to install treatment facilities for the next generations. In future it would not be technically feasible to extend the facilities in any other area, it has to be extended at the same location.
On one hand government officials succeeded in saving 150 acres of precious land reserved for the treatment plant and on the other hand no action was proposed for the culprits who made an attempt to grab the land through unconstitutional means. What a contrast and boldness before the summit court of the land. When investigated it was disclosed that the then MD of KWS, Iftikhar Ahmed, Brig (R) gave a written assurance to the Government officials that KWSB might need only 150 acres of land in future for the development of treatment facilities, which is also not on record in KWSB and no technical member of KWSB team was taken into confidence for this important issue. By law MD has no right or auhtority to withdraw the legal rights of KWSB and again instead of taking action against the then MD. plea has been taken to take away 150 acres of land from KWSB.
We as NGOs of Karachi have full faith in our judiciary and since the matter is subjudiced , SC can order to recover the remaining 150 acres from the clutches of land mafia. Attorney general of Pakistan is requested to thoroughly investigate the issue purely on technical grounds, case merit and implement the courts orders in letter and spirit, it would be a great service to this and coming generations of Karachi.
Treatment Plant-II Land Scam-CDGK Utilized TP-II land illegally
A 115-acre plot in Mehmoodabad, which the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has utilized for the resettlement of the affectees of Lines Area, legally belongs to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), allocated for the expansion of Treatment Plant II (TP-II).
The plot is being used for the TP-II, it is also being used as a storage ground for goods impounded in anti-encroachment drives. In the past some parties have tried many times to utilize some of the TP-II land but were not allowed to expand the graveyard or construct a park or any other facility. However, now the CDGK is merrily violating all the rules and regulations by using the land as an alternate accommodation for the affected people of Lines Area, the CDGK Works and Services Department demarcated a total of 1,264 plots on the 50-acre empty portion of TP-II and allowed the encroachers to occupy the KWSB land, reserved for the treatment plant.
Earlier, Mr. Ghani, an opposition leader in CDGK House on a point of order, had attempted to raise the issue on the city council floor but the City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil and a couple of other treasury members had barred him from doing so. He even tried to read out a letter (No DO-I/Z-II/W&S/CDGK/08/165) issued by the CDGK Works and Services Department District Officer Shakoor Pathan, requesting the KWSB managing director to allow the demarcation of plots and other proposed facilities.
Now the current status of the land is that, KWSB is planning to expand TP-II under S-III Project but sufficient land is not available to properly design the plant in an affordable cost. In fact KPT had taken up the S-III Project and contributing towards S-III by proposing a plant (60 mgd Capacity) at Mai kolachi but that piece of land is also under litigation. If, in case that proposal is not materialized, KWSB has no other option but to divert all flows to TP-II and enhanced its existing capacity. But this is not possible in the present scenario as a large piece of land has been encroached upon by the affetees of Lines area project. Since the site is the best suited place for the treatment facility, it should not be used for any other purpose other than its specified use.
Once again, we as concerned citizens of Karachi, request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to gather all the facts, which have not been stated by the concerned authorities, and order an immediate inquiry to restore the original status of the land. In the past SC has made many historic verdicts and did not compromise on the doctrine of necessacity. The attorney General who has been assigned this task to implement the S-III project is hereby also requested to look into the issue and clear all ambiguities before the honorable court and provide them actual facts of the case. This is in the best interest of all.
–
Shoib Khan, PLOT NO. D-266, STREET NO.4, HAROONABAD, SITE, KARACHI, CELL # 0321-2026265
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